NT babies at 'greater risk' of abuse

A national report has found Northern Territory babies are at greater risk of child abuse. (ABC News)

A national report says Northern Territory babies under the age of one are at greater risk of child abuse than babies in other parts of Australia.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says confirmed cases of abuse against young babies were three times higher in the Northern Territory than in any other state or territory last financial year.

The report also says child abuse across all age groups increased by 45 per cent in the Northern Territory during the same period, despite a drop in national figures.

Indigenous children in the Territory are eight times more likely to be reported than their non-indigenous counterparts.

One of the authors of the study, Tim Beard, said as communities become more aware of child protection issues, they are more likely to report suspected incidents.

He said the numbers were still too high, but the fact that more incidents of child abuse are being reported was good.

"That is something of an alarming statistic that we do see from year to year," Mr Beard said.

"I should say that the indigenous numbers tended to stabilise over the past few years, so while the national numbers are going down, the Indigenous numbers aren't increasing as largely from year to year as they used to.

"So it is a good sign, but obviously eight times over the rate of non-indigenous children is not an acceptable rate."

The head of the Northern Territory's Child Protection Inquiry says he is heartened by the findings.

Dr Howard Bath said there is more awareness of mandatory reporting in communities.

"There's an irony in these numbers," Dr Bath said.

"The very large increase in notifications and substantiations in the Northern Territory, ironically enough, is a positive sign that the system finally is starting to pick up on children who are abused and neglected."